Lockheed Martin has delivered its eight and final new Global Positioning System satellite in the Block IIR production program. A company release states that there currently are three IIR-M satellites on orbit, along with 12 of the original Block IIR spacecraft. The Air Force plans to launch the fourth Lockheed-built GPS IIR-M, with enhanced operations and navigation signal performance, late this year. Lockheed has designed and built 21 IIR satellites and, working with ITT and General Dynamics, is vying for the next generation GPS program award, slated for late 2007.
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…